Belt and buckle assembly

ABSTRACT

A belt adapted to be worn about the torso and equipped with clasp means detachably securable to either end thereof. The channel shaped clasp plate embraces the forward face of the overlapped belt ends and conceals separate means for securing each belt end to the clasp plate. One of the securing means comprises a pair of headed pins mounted on the rear of the clasp plate and seatable in keyholes punched in one belt end. The other securing means comprises a T-shaped lug having a friction fit in a selected opening through the other end of the belt, its T-stem being insertable through the clasp plate from its rear and being held in place by a keeper pin held captive to the plate by a chain or other flexible tie.

Unite States Patent [111 3,777,315

Norfolk Dec. 11, 1973 [54] BELT AND BUCKLE ASSEMBLY FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 Inventorl David Norfolk, 6170 Canterbury 749,746 5/I956 Great Britain 24/166 Dr.; Apt. 5-118, Culver City, Calif. 90230 Primary ExaminerFrancis K. Zugel [22] Filed: May 18, 1972 Assistant Examiner-Kenneth J. Dorner Att0rney-Wil1iam Douglas Sellers et al. [21] Appl. No.: 254,397

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 2/321, 24/73 SF, 24/77 R, A belt adapted to be worn about the torso and 24/206 R equipped with clasp means detachably securable to [51] Int. Cl. A4lf 9/02 either end thereof: The channel Shaped clasp plate [58] Fleld 0f Search 24/73 SF, 79, 80, embraces the forward face of the overlapped l ends 24/163 201 201 201 77 and conceals separate means for securing each belt 206 163 164 R; 292/281; end to the clasp plate. One of the securing means 2/321, 322 comprises a pair of headed pins mounted on the rear of the clasp plate and seatable in keyholes punched in [56] References C'ted one belt end. The other securing means comprises a UNITED S S PATENTS T-shaped lug having a friction fit in a selected opening 583,796 6/1897 Ferrell 2/321 through the other end of the belt, its T-Stem being 2,459,020 1/1949 Dillenz 2/321 sertable through the clasp plate from its rear and 316.372 4/1885 Bretzfieldm- 24/164 being held in place by a keeper pin held captive to the 2,607,975 Telles KO plate a chain o other flexible tie 3,438,063 4/1969 Loston 24/206 R 3,187,399 6/1965 Anderson 292/281 15 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BELT AND BUCKLE ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a belt and clasp assembly and more particularly to an improved clasp unit having independent means for separably securing either end of the belt to the plate with both belt ends concealed from view in the assembled portion of the parts. I

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a unique item of wearing apparel massively proportioned and including 'clasp means of unique design so constructed and arranged as to be readily attached and detached from either end of the belt with provisions for norinally'concealing each end of the belt from view. The clasp assembly comprises a large area channel shaped plate the lateral edges of which embrace the opposite edges of the belt ends to conceal the latter from view. T-shaped lug means have an interference fit with any one of a series of openings spaced along the length of the belt. The tapering T -stem of this lug is insertable through a complementally shaped opening in the clasp plate from its rear of the plate and locked assembled by insertion of a keeper pin attached to the front of the clasp by a flexible tie, such as a chain. The other end of the belt is provided with keyhole openings having a snug frictional fit with headed pins fixed to the rear of the clasp plate. The described means for securing the clasp to the belt ends permits either end to be detached from the clasp at the users option.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved and unique belt and clasp assembly having numerous features of novelty.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clasp assembly comprising a plate designed to conceal the overlapped ends of a belt and having separate means for selectively and detachably securing either end of the belt to the clasp assembly.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a belt clasp assembly comprising a channel shaped main body sized to embrace the overlapped ends of a belt and having a chain-mounted keeper pin for retaining a lug protruding from the free end of the belt assembled to an opening in the face of the clasp plate.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a belt assembly having a clasp detachably'secure-able to either end and effective to conceal the overlapped ends ofabelt.

These and other more specific'objects will'appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown fully assembled;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view on anenlarged scale taken along broken line 2--2 on FIG. 1; I

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 3-3 on FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 isan exploded fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing a bayonet type separable connector for holdong one end of the belt to oneend of the clasp plate. I I

Referring initially to FIG. .1, there is shown an .illustrative embodiment of the invention belt and clasp assembly, designated generally 10, and including a rather massive leather belt 11 and an appropriately proportioned clasp assembly, designated generally 12. Belt 11 is formed with a plurality of elongated openings 14, 14.

Although not so shown, it will be understood that these may be distributed along the full lengthof the belt for design effect, although obviously only those openin near the free end 15 are normally utilized. I

Clasp assembly 12 includes a channel shaped clasp plate 16, which may be formed in any suitable manner although, as here shown, it is cast or molded with thick walls with any desired contour and surface ornamentation on its outer or forward face. The width of the interior of plate 16 between its rearwardly directed side flanges l7, 17 is adequate to receive and embrace belt 11 in the manner made clear by FIG. 3. Although the sidewalls are not shown as having a height adequate to embrace the overlapped ends of the belt, it will be understood that they may be so formed if desired.

The means for holdingthe opposite-ends of the belt detachably secured to clasp plate 16 include a pair of headed pins 20, 20 held assembled in wells 21 in the back face of plate 16 by staking, soldering and other suitable means. The heads of these pins are inser'table in the larger end 23 of.keyhole slots 24 punched in one end of belt 11 in the manner best shown in FIG. 4. Pins 20 andkeyholes 24 will be understood as providing a bayonet type separable connection and are proportioned to have a snug fit with one another. Some users may prefer that this snug fit be so made as to retain the belt end reliably secured to the clasp assembly whereas others may prefer sufficient tolerance between the parts to permit the wearer to attach and detach the belt ends relative to pins 20 with ease rather than to employ the adjustable connector means to bedescribed presently for the'other end of belt 11.

The adjustable connector for the free end 15 of the belt comprises a T-shaped lug 26 having a tapering T- stem. This'relief is so proportioned relative to the dimensions of openings 14 as to provide an interference fit in the manner clearly indicated in FIG. 2. Thus, the

opposite ends of openings 14 are expanded as the lug stalled, the stretched walls of opening 14 expand and become seated in the grooves or relieved areas 28 thereby holding lug 26 separably installed in a selected one of openings 14.

The outer end of T-stem 27 isprovided with a transverse opening 30 to seat a tapering keeper pin 33. A chain 34 or other flexible tie means has one end connected to the upper end of pin 33 and its other end attached to some part of the clasp plate as is indicated at 35.

In use, the belt is placed about the wearer while either end is disassembled from the clasp plate. Assuming that end 15 has been detached by withdrawing the keeper pin 33 from lug 26, the user places the belt about his body after first making certain that lug 26 is 27 is inserted forwardly through opening 36 in the face of plate 16. While held in this position, keeper pin 33 is inserted downwardly through opening 30 locking lug 26 firmly and snugly assembled to the clasp plate. The

free end 15 of the belt will then lie directly behind the other end and, as viewed from the front of the clasp assembly, both ends of the belt will be fully concealed and belt 11 will appear to be endless.

The proper adjustment of lug 26 for a particular wearer having been established, the user has the option of removing the belt from his torso by separating either end from clasp plate 16. The simple and most expeditious mode is to detach the keyholes 24 from the headed pins 20 by slight reverse movement of the belt and relative to these pins. Alternatively, the belt is quickly disassembled by withdrawing keeper pin 33 upwardly and shifting the clasp outwardly away from T- stem 27 of lug 26.

While the particular belt and buckle assembly herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a belt adapted to encircle the torso as an accessory of wearing apparel, clasp means for holding the opposite ends of said belt separably secured together in overlapped relation, said clasp means comprising an elongated clasp plate having a width corresponding generally to the width of said belt and provided with means near one rear end thereof for securing one end of said belt thereto, the other end of said belt having a plurality of openings spaced along the free end thereof, lug means selectively insertable in any one of said openings at the users option with the free end thereof protruding outwardly from the outer face of said belt, said clasp plate having an opening therethrough sized to receive the free end of said lug means inserted from the rear face thereof, said lug means having an opening therethrough, and captive means secured to said clasp plate and including keeper pin means insertable in the opening in said lug means to hold the latter detachably in place in the opening through said clasp plate thereby to hold the free end of said belt secured against the rear face of said clasp plate.

2. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said lug means is generally T- Y shaped with the T-stem thereof adapted to extend through one of said belt openings and the openings for said keeper pin means extending transversely of the outer end of said T-stem.

3. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 2 characterized in that the T-stem of said lug means is sized to have a snug fit with any selected one of said belt openings.

4. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 2 characterized in that the inner base end of said T-stem is relieved and has an interference fit with the belt opening after being pressed into assembled position therein.

5. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said means for securing one end of said belt to one end of said clasp plate is located essentially on the rear face of said plate and normally concealed from view when said belt is being worn.

6. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 5 characterized in that said means securing one end of said belt to said clasp plate is free of moving parts and effective to hold said clasp plate detachably secured to said one belt end.

7. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said one belt end is formed with at least one keyhole shaped opening, and headed keeper means fixed to the rear of said clasp plate and sized to havea snug interference fit through said keyhole and effective when fully assembled in the smaller end of said keyhole to hold said one belt end secured to said clasp plate.

8. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said clasp plate is channel shaped in cross section with its side flanges facing rearwardly and spaced to embrace the lateral edges of said belt.

9. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said keeper pin means tapers and in that the larger end thereof is attached to one end of flexible tie means having its other end anchored to the front face of said clasp plate.

10. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said flexible tie means comprises a link chain.

11. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that both ends of said belt overlap one another behind said clasp plate and are substantially concealed from view when said belt is being worn.

12. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said means for securing said one end of said belt to one end of said clasp plate is constructed and arranged to release said one belt end from said clasp plate readily without need for tools whereby the wearer has the option of disengaging either end of said belt from said clasp plate when removing the same.

13. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said clamp plate is channel shaped in cross section and cast with a thick wall to present a massive appearance.

14. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 13 characterized in that said lug means is cast in theshape of the letter T and includes a tapering T-stem and a relatively thin T-head.

15. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that both ends of said belt are provided with a plurality of similar spaced apart openings. 

1. An article of manufacture comprising a belt adapted to encircle the torso as an accessory of wearing apparel, clasp means for holding the opposite ends of said belt separably secured together in overlapped relation, said clasp means comprising an elongated clasp plate having a width corresponding generally to the width of said belt and provided with means near one rear end thereof for securing one end of said belt thereto, the other end of said belt having a plurality of openings spaced along the free end thereof, lug means selectively insertable in any one of said openings at the user''s option with the free end thereof protruding outwardly from the outer face of said belt, said clasp plate having an opening therethrough sized to receive the free end of said lug means inserted from the rear face thereof, said lug means having an opening therethrough, and captive means secured to said clasp plate and including keeper pin means insertable in the opening in said lug means to hold the latter detachably in place in the opening through said clasp plate thereby to hold the free end of said belt secured against the rear face of said clasp plate.
 2. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said lug means is generally T-shaped with the T-stem thereof adapted to extend through one of said belt openings and the openings for said keeper pin means extending transversely of the outer end of said T-stem.
 3. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 2 characterized in that the T-stem of said lug means is sized to have a snug fit with any selected one of said belt openings.
 4. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 2 characterized in that the inner base end of said T-stem is relieved and has an interference fit with the belt opening after being pressed into assembled position therein.
 5. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said means for securing one end of said belt to one end of said clasp plate is located essentially on the rear face of said plate and normally concealed from view when said belt is being worn.
 6. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 5 characterized in that said means securing one end of said belt to said clasp plate is free of moving parts and effective to hold said clasp plate detachably secured to said one belt end.
 7. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said one belt end is formed with at least one keyhole shaped opening, and headed keeper means fixed to the rear of said clasp plate and sized to have a snug interference fit through said keyhole and effective when fully assembled in the smaller end of said keyhole to hold said one belt end secured to said clasp plate.
 8. An article of manufacture as defined in cLaim 1 characterized in that said clasp plate is channel shaped in cross section with its side flanges facing rearwardly and spaced to embrace the lateral edges of said belt.
 9. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said keeper pin means tapers and in that the larger end thereof is attached to one end of flexible tie means having its other end anchored to the front face of said clasp plate.
 10. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 9 characterized in that said flexible tie means comprises a link chain.
 11. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that both ends of said belt overlap one another behind said clasp plate and are substantially concealed from view when said belt is being worn.
 12. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said means for securing said one end of said belt to one end of said clasp plate is constructed and arranged to release said one belt end from said clasp plate readily without need for tools whereby the wearer has the option of disengaging either end of said belt from said clasp plate when removing the same.
 13. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said clamp plate is channel shaped in cross section and cast with a thick wall to present a massive appearance.
 14. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 13 characterized in that said lug means is cast in the shape of the letter T and includes a tapering T-stem and a relatively thin T-head.
 15. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1 characterized in that both ends of said belt are provided with a plurality of similar spaced apart openings. 